The MUSIC

I've had several questions about the music you hear...if you continue to scroll down -- you'll see a QUILT slideshow I put together from my Houston visit. Although I love the music with the slideshow...I know it can be annoying. I'll probably remove it in a day or so...

If you actually watch the whole slideshow, you'll understand why I chose the song...

Sewing and Writing

My book clubbers and I had a special outing. Marilynne Robinson, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Housekeeping, Gilead and Home -- was in Davenport, Iowa for a book signing. That's a majorly good day for a bunch of book junkies like us.

I could have listened to her talk for hours
I'm happy to report that our local Borders was JAM PACKED. Gee, I love Iowa...

A junior high teacher asked "how can I motivate kids to write?" Marilynne Robinson's thoughtful answer was, "you should make sure they know that while learning to write, they will encounter some difficulties."

That was an epiphany for me. I mean -- Duh! If you want to learn to play the violin -- you expect to encounter some difficulties. Any accomplished ballerina can tell you she encountered some difficulties...And that's not a bad thing, is it?

My life is about both writing and sewing. (I do a LOT more writing than I do sewing) And, tonight, after listening to Marilynne Robinson, I was thinking about how much time and energy the sewing industry puts into trying to bring the younger generation into this life skill -- sewing -- this artistic, creative, inspirational hobby we love so much. Every effort aimed at them is always about how "easy" it is.

Maybe we need a new approach. Maybe we should tell them -- while learning to sew -- you should expect to encounter some difficulties...

Hummm.....

Tomorrow, I'm going to introduce you to a young sewer who doesn't worry about "easy"...

This is the world famous Marilynne Robinson, signing my book --

Happy Birthday ROSS

This post is mostly a Birthday Card for my first baby's 32nd birthday. (I MEAN -- YOU'VE GOTTA LOVE THE INTERNET, EH?)

Dear Ross,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Did you get the package yet? I sent it on Wednesday...you know me....late as usual. SORRY... There's about a 30% chance you'll receive our gift on your birthday.

SO -- just so you know we ARE thinking about you on your special day -- I wanted to show you some of the pictures we took of YOU this year.

First of all -- If taking pictures is the measure of a mother -- I failed miserably. I like to think we were too busy LIVING our life to photograph it. But, since you gave me my nifty little Sony Cybershot digital camera (a wonderful gift!) -- I'm doing WAY BETTER.

Emily took a picture of us during a rare restaurant meal...


Here you are last fall, (you can tell exactly when it happened from the TV ad in the background)playing with Cash-in-a-bucket. I appreciate how you always make a special effort to see Amy & Nicole's kids whenever you come home for a visit...so do they...



You have ALWAYS been a sucker for a dog (in this case -- TWO dogs).

Cash, sitting on your lap. I often tell the story about when he was born and Amy named him Cash. You did not approve of the name Cash...(if the child had actually been named after Johnny Cash -- THAT would have been acceptable). So, you called him Juan Pablo for the longest time. (he still answers to that...)
This is a picture from last Christmas. Our fabulous 2008 fake Christmas tree. We loved it...
Not a great picture -- but I love the fact that Emily (Elliott's wife -- in the background) gave the family tickets to the IMAX theater last year for Christmas. GREAT gift, eh? You and Elliott and now Emily are VERY thoughtful gift-givers. In this picture, Emily is six months pregnant...

This is my most recent picture of you, Ross -- holding our first grandbaby, Lillian! I love the way life moves on. You both look absorbed in thought. Like, maybe you're thinking, "she is the most beautiful baby girl I've ever seen"...

And Lillian is thinking, "WOW. ISN'T HE THE GREATEST UNCLE EVER??!!"

Or, maybe she's thinking, "I wonder if he knows he forgot to shave?"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROSS. I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. And if it were possible, I'd make some hickory nut cookies in your honor...

We love you -- and -- the check is in the mail, bud...

Quilt Market Slide Show

Quilt Market MEALS

OH, yes, trade shows are really hard work, people. Anybody who's ever worked one will attest to that. But, for me, it ends up being ALL ABOUT THE FOOD. (big surprise, eh?) Really. Because you have to pay $8 for a baked potato (loaded with butter, sour cream, cheese, chili AND bacon) -- of course you must EAT THE WHOLE THING.



This is such a GREAT picture of Deanna -- so, even though my eyes are closed and I look like a schmuck -- I'm using it anyway.

I loved the blue water glasses -- and can you believe it -- fish shaped plates?? You can see I nearly licked mine clean...I was so hungry it was embarrassing...



After enjoying a fun evening and a great meal -- I asked them to pose for ONE MORE PICTURE with my Hey Rita bag. As my friend Marion would say, "you can't have too many of those pictures, Rita..."

Thanks again, Rhonda, Nancy & Deanna for playing my Hey Rita Traveling Bag game...

Zebra Point of View from a Reader

While I was in Houston, I received this email:
Hey Rita!
I'm enjoying your blogs and had to tell you your timing is perfect!
I live 45 minutes north of Puyallup (so get to do Expo!)....and
yesterday my son and I flew to Cincinnati for a family wedding tomorrow.
Then....we head for Niagara Falls by way of ancestral cemeteries in
...you guessed it...Chatauqua County!! I will route us past the A Hotel
(like I'm going to even try to spell it!!) and picture you there!
On the way back to Cincinnati we're going thru...you guessed it again...Erie
County!! And I promise to find Mill Creek Sewing!!
I attended Quilt Camp at Sea (cruise to Alaska)this summer with a group of 7 of us f rom Lake Washington Technical College in Kirkland, WA. My instructor and friend, Eva Holen, (Handy Heart potholder pattern designer) wore ZEBRA for formal night! Photo attached! (Eva in stripes, I'm in sparkles next to her, with glasses) We're all friends with Lisa Moore,patterns, fabric, teacher) from Sitka, Alaska who was also on the cruise. Eva and Lisa are in Houston, and I believe Lisa has a booth. http://www.quiltswithatwist.com/

Cheers! :o)

Beckie Daniels
Kirkland WA

From my cellphone, I sent this note:

I am so thrilled you emailed me
I can't wait to see your pictures
Thanks so much
Tell millcreek I said hello

Best
Rita

Then, Becky sent her trip report:

Hi again,
We drove past Chautauqua but it was closed for the season and couldn't
get near the A. Hotel. :o(
Spent the night in Erie last night but left before Millcreek opened. :o(
Went to the Toledo Zoo this afternoon. Watched the hippos for a long
time. Cold and rainy, and we had the place almost to ourselves. And I
found zebras for you!! :o) See attached photos. The green rolls are
sweatshirts. See them here:
http://shop.toledozoo.org/browse.cfm/4,1696.html

:o) Beckie Daniels


WHAT A RIOT!! THANKS FOR PLAYING my zebra-stripes game, Becky!! SEE YOU AT THE SHOW.

Halloween for Twins!

My young-mom-friend, Anne was making Halloween costumes for her twins -- so I asked for PICTURES...

Hi Rita,

Of course I'll send pictures. As a matter of fact - here is last year. Luke and Leia from Star Wars. (You may remember that Luke and Leia turned out to be twins - just like Sam and Sarah.)

The Leia dress came from an unfinished angel costume that had been sitting around for years. Sam's Luke robe was recycled from some blinds that had been in our bedroom. I love using window treatments to stitch clothes for kids. I always feel like a cross between Scarlet and Maria.

I was thinking of you yesterday. Do you remember the light up globe you sent home with Sam years ago? It's of course a fixture in his room, but yesterday we got to take it to our 4-H meeting. We had a day of Japan and of course we needed to know where Japan is.

Hope you're enjoying this beautiful day. Sam and Jim are out hanging grocery bags on doors - scouting for food. Sarah has a friend over and they are in their own imaginary world.

Back to sewing - I know I've got some black velvet scraps somewhere.... time to dig.

Anne -- KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. I'm anxious to see what Sarah and Sam will be for Halloween this year. You are the mother I wish I had been, babe...

KEEP THOSE PICTURES COMING....thanks, rita